Muslims Aid Victims Of Typhoon Bopha

Typhoon victims in Davao Oriental (the Philippines), mostly Christians, were grateful for the help they were provided by the employees of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) of Maguindanao, composed mostly of Muslims.

More than a 1,000 people were killed when Typhoon Bopha (Pablo) hit southern Philippines earlier this month.

Typhoon Bopha from above.

It was the strongest tropical cyclone to ever hit Mindanao, a Category 5 super typhoon with winds of 160 mph (260 km/h).

Muslims health workers quickly launched a relief mission in ravaged communities.

ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman distributes aid to victims in Compostela Valley. Photo: ARMM

The project was undertaken by IPHO in partnership with the Department of Health in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the 103rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, and the provincial government who provided logistics support to the medical teams.

About 90% of the IPHO relief team in Maguindanao are reportedly Muslims, and they have been helping people of all faiths, especially their Christian brothers and sisters.

“It’s nice to see our Muslim brothers and sisters serve us Christians. We realized that Moro people are not war promoters, like how they are sometimes projected in news reports. They have big hearts for their Christian compatriots,” a fish vendor named Merta Ignacio told the local press.

Services provided included medical consultation and treatment, minor surgery, vaccination for flu and pneumonia, eye examinations and health education.

Relief efforts are ongoing and the Korean government is set to provide further relief assistance to help aid rehabilitation efforts.